HAPPY 2020, everyone!

Original content is so close once we finish up the Secret Ending stuff. _ It only gets more intense from here.

To be honest - I'm not sure if V should live or die...

What do you guys think? Should V live? (( A straw poll has been created at strawpoll . me / 19172715 (remove the spaces). Feel free to share. :D)

To the uninitiated, the string of numbers and details would've seemed like an alien transmission… Considering the source, that wasn't unusual, but the information was surprisingly direct for Seven. It was short and to the point, which didn't help the anxious feeling in Jaehee's heart. There were no jokes, no tricks. Just data. The revelations in such short order vastly understated the weight of them…

Deep in the mountains what awaited them seemed unreal:

First was the location, which was in the middle of the mountains. Satellite imaging did indeed show a compound of some size complete with its own farm and power.

Rika was alive…

V was there with them.

There were several other people at the compound who would likely need care.

Miyeon was well, but Saeyoung wasn't…

Out of all the other information he gave them via remote upload regarding blue prints and information about security, he couldn't spare a line to say how he'd been hurt. His only mention was that there would likely be a need for emergency medical care. Perhaps it was his attempt to keep her from worrying too much, but it had the opposite effect.

The news was already on fire with the information leak about the agency that she suspected Saeyoung had been a party to. Of course, there were denials despite the amount of evidence…

She didn't have time to really dwell on it though. At Jumin's direction, the plan was already enacted, and her worries were set aside as she began work on keeping the operation discreet. Concern for her friends' safety was secondary to her duties to her boss, although there was no denying that both were important.

The helicopters were up and on their way within fifteen minutes of the message. There was a small army along with local medical staff on her list to contact after the initial breach was made into the compound. Every eventuality was prepared for, but it was hard not to be nervous…

's normally impassive expression had darkened, yet to anyone else he would've seemed as detached as usual. He didn't speak outside of the occasional order… There was likely a great deal that he and V would need to discuss.

There was no time to explain to the other RFA members, and honestly, it was probably best that they knew as little as possible… Within three hours, they'd be at the compound directly and no doubt dealing with weeks worth of clean up.

Jaehee quietly prayed amid the flurry of preparations that all would go well and that they wouldn't be too late. She really didn't want to enact Saeyoung Choi's last will and testament… If God let him make it through, the executive assistant would never complain about his antics again.

Down in the cells there was no way to tell what time of day it was or how late it'd gotten. The guards had seemingly left them on their own, which wasn't a welcome sign. They'd likely been called away to help with preparations or to ready themselves for the ceremony.

The time wasn't being wasted. Vanderwood and V had made short work of one of the hinges and had started on the last. It was slow work, but it was at least something to keep them occupied. At this point, Saeyoung was essentially watching for messages from C&R's security team, but even that was becoming a challenge as his uninjured arm was shaking too much to hold the phone steady. Miyeon was acting as his hands…

He hated himself for being so weak, for letting her involve herself further…

Eventually Vanderwood took a break from his task as his hands were starting to show signs of the wear and tear.

"…You don't think something will happen to us before Mr. Powerful gets here, do you? It's been a little over 2 hours. If I'm going to die, I'd at least like to have one last cig."

Saeyoung's head was just barely starting to understand the language being spoken to him when he realized everyone's eyes widened.

Then he heard it too. It was a distinct tapping that grew louder from around the corner until a familiar white, chubby shape emerged. Catbot, had finally made it back! She was a little smudged, but her little legs had managed to carry her back to them, looking as triumphant as any electronic device could be.

"Food delivery-meow!" she announced proudly.

Sinking into the wall, the hacker sighed with some relief while his former handler scooted back with apprehension.

"AH! Isn't this the one that breathes fire!?"

"No… This one is hollow inside," the hacker answered wearily.

"Okay, but what's that red thing in it's mout-?"

The girl sat up and extended her hands down towards the chubby robot to pick it up. Instead the machine quite happily toddled over to her before unceremoniously coughing bright cherry tomatoes from its mouth. It didn't help that it resembled a cat wretching up a hairball.

"Tomatoes acquired – 5 in total!" the bot announced.

"Ugh! Is it throwing up!?" Vanderwood asked with disgust.

"It's a robot," the half dead red head reminded him. "When Miyeon and I were here before I noticed they had a vegetable garden on the North side… I worked really hard on the evasion algorithm so I'm hoping it got us some new intel…"

Unsurprisingly, Miyeon offered him a few. He curled her hands with his own to make it clear that the effort had been for her and no one else. "Please… Eat."

There was no mistaking her thoughts as their eyes met. It was her instinct to share and to care for others, even if it was a detriment to herself. But…

V deserved whatever happened to him. Vanderwood was strong enough to endure a little discomfort. But Miyeon was a true innocent. He wasn't going to trust her well being to anyone but himself as long as there was a breath in his body. The mistakes he made with Saeran weren't ones he intended to repeat with her.

As long as she was alive and safe, he could bear anything that would follow. Miyeon had to stay alive and well.

But her honey colored eyes darted to the others before returning to his with a desperation.

She wasn't a selfish person… Not like him.

"…Please."

There was no denying the desire to protest, but to his surprise Vanderwood spoke up.

"Look, I'm not gonna eat something that cat threw up."

Any other time, it might've been a bit funny… But it only made her more solemn as her fingers curled around the ruby colored morsels.

"Sae-"

"…There's a good chance that they'll take me to surgery to repair my arm after help comes. So, it's probably not a good idea for me to eat anything right now… But once we're safe, I'll eat whatever you put in front of me. I promise."

There was that sad look again… He rested his head to hers before gently pressing her hands close to her body.

"You need to stay strong."

She relented, popping one of the tomatoes joylessly into her mouth. His good hand gently stroked her hair before he used a plug in on the catbot to plug into the phone to charge it some.

"You're a strange dude… You know that? You could've had it bring bandages or medicine," Vanderwood chided.

"I didn't have time for that," the hacker answered, glancing over as Miyeon guiltily ate. His attention then turned back to the robot. "Catbot, what was security like?"

"Three humans are still guarding – meow. One woman caught me on the way."

"What?" Vanderwood asked with concern.

"Which woman?" Saeyoung pressed.

"Long blonde hair – meow."

Miyeon seemed to go pale and rigid hearing that. The older agent's eyes locked onto his own as they both understood that they'd likely have company sooner than they wanted. There were potential hours before they could hope for any sign of rescue…

Before Saeyoung could even prompt catbot for ore information, the dreadful sound of the metal door at the end of the corridor reverberated through the stale air. V stopped his efforts. The hacker tucked the phone and catbot into his inner pockets before protectively pulling the most precious person in the cell to him close. The louder the sound of heels on wet stone became, the deeper Miyeon's fingers dug into him…

"I knew you were a genius the moment I first laid eyes on you," an elegant female voice announced. "It's still a little hard to believe you made such a brilliant little machine."

"It was her, meow," catbot noted from its maker's pocket.

"Rika!" the photographer called, his hand reaching out from the cell towards the sound of her voice.

Vanderwood backed up, putting himself in front of Miyeon and the hacker.

"We're in trouble, aren't we?" he uttered for his former charge's ears.

The hacker felt frozen… At best he was a living shield for her, but that was only as long as they were together. Realistically, they were going to be taken or split up… He and Vanderwood had discussed plans for such a situation. Being a diversion and stalling was really all they could do at this point. There was no way they were going to fight their way out of a cult headquarters full of brainwashed, drugged up zealots…

"You must've been so shocked seeing Saeran. You have to admire his loyalty, he even has a tattoo showing his devotion to the cause."

"What happened to you?" Saeyoung asked, doing his best to keep his voice level…

Rika continued as if he'd not said a word. "Maybe you should get one too. It's good for twins to match, wouldn't you agree?"

"What did you do to Saeran?"

"I saved him. Just as I will save you. It won't be easy, but the process is certain to make your thoughts happy. Saeran went through it too. Really the more alike you two are – the better."

He'd known her longer than V…

How had he not noticed?

"How long has this been going on?" he pressed. "What happened to you?"

"I'm simply doing what is necessary to save people from themselves. V suggested the RFA, but I realized very quickly that throwing money at the problems weren't going to solve the corruption at the core. You should know better than anyone what a cruel world it is, and how dirty one's hands must get to do good things… You'll be a great asset."

The more she spoke, the more apparent it became. This wasn't anything V had done… Had Rika meant to use him from the moment he stepped into that Cathedral? Was her kindness and tenderness a lie from the start? It couldn't have been. Teaching him to read and write… Petting his head when he did well… Taking him to the museum and showing him the world… Reminding him that his mother's words were harmless and that he could be so much more… He was clever and talented. He had value… Rika taught him that.

Who was this woman before him now?

It couldn't have all been fake could it?

When had she become this monster?

Clearly, it'd been years in the making… The planning and budget behind designing and building such a place. It must've been shortly after he'd joined the agency.

Had Saeran even gotten the gift he'd given V to give him?

…His brother was likely under her sway by then, being drugged and tortured.

"Like Saeran…? Who gave you permission to do those things to my broth-...!" Before he could force himself up, Vanderwood steadied him while Miyeon clung to him. "I wo-…" His head felt so woozy… "I won't forgive you!"

"Stay calm… You can't get worked up again. You've got someone to protect, remember?" the agent urged quietly.

"It'll be so beautiful to have a complete set of twins in our group," Rika continued wistfully.

"Rika… Please stop involving innocent people in this," V pleaded.

The blonde's ecstatic expression ebbed to one of disgust as she gazed down at her former lover. "Oh… I forgot about you."

"…If you involve anyone else, it'll just make you feel even more empty! You know this. It's not to late to stop this madness!"

Why was he pleading with her?

"Empty? Not at all," the woman scoffed. "I still hadn't decided on what to do about you. There's no place for you in Paradise. Perhaps I should make an example of you to remind them of why the outside world is to be feared and then have you disposed of."

His legs quivered as Vanderwood and Miyeon held him up. If there were any traces of doubt in his mind over who had done this to his family, they were cleared.

"Do whatever you like to me… Just, please stop this."

"This has nothing to do with what I want. This is just what must be done for everyone's happiness."

V made mistakes, but it was becoming increasingly clear that the photographer had been hoping to cure madness with love alone… But love wasn't enough…

Saeyoung clung tightly to Miyeon.

He'd do anything for her… Yet the girl's eyes were focused upon Rika with a cold ferocity he'd never seen out of her. There was no doubt in his mind now that she'd been subjected to something horrible… That only intensified his need to keep her safe. He wouldn't let what had been done to Saeran happen to her…

As his attention turned to the blonde, her green eyes seemed dull and nearly maniacal.

"…The way you're both looking at me right now. Let's see if you can stay so confident during the ceremony."

Over a dozen guards emerged lining up behind the blonde. V was led out first. He continued to plead to Rika… Any pride the man had was gone.

Saeyoung felt his body tighten in preparation as the remaining guards lined up in the cell, backing the remaining prisoners in a corner. He could buy Jumin's men a few more precious minutes by making a nuisance of himself. They'd discussed a few options in the hours they'd waited. The temptation was to keep the fight here, as there were less bodies but Vanderwood glanced back at him. There was a good chance that they were likely being lead to a more public viewing for an induction ceremony of some sort. Undoubtly there'd be more people and any diversion they did would be more likely to cause chaos there.

He could see the concern in his former keeper's eyes. In his own way, the older agent had indulged him and let him have as normal of a life as he could.

You have someone to protect.

It wasn't like Saeyoung'd ever asked Vanderwood what his life was like outside of work… His feelings on outside relationships seemed pretty clear. When did he become that scared 15-year-old again? The hacker drew Miyeon closer as the brunette stood his full, impressive height and popped his back. He was easily taller than anyone in the room, even V. Vanderwood was certainly the most physically robust. That alone was usually enough for most people to leave him alone.

While the older agent didn't fight, he did take his time following orders.

"My friend is really hurt, so you're going to be really easy with him, right?" he asked darkly.

"After you're all cleansed the medical staff will attend his wounds. I'm sure is more than a little curious about the sorts of people her daughter has been hanging around with," Rika noted with a sadistic smile.

The hacker felt his heart drop. Before he could even fully comprehend, the guards descended upon them. Miyeon gave every ounce of herself to keeping the cultists away from him with a barrage of kicks and bites. A feral, ragged noise escaped her as the last of his family was pulled from his arms. He weakly reached out, feeling his lover's fingers graze his. It took three men to pull him up and out while she was pinned against the cell wall.

"Stop! I'll cooperate! Just let her go!"

"Rika… Please," V echoed.

There was nothing he could do…

The girl eased her struggling if only to reduce the amount of pain it caused from how tightly they were holding her hands behind her back. As though nothing were unusual about the situation, the blonde smoothed the long dark strands of his lover's hair before leaning in and whispering something in her ear.

At that, Miyeon's skin paled and for just a flash her courage waned. There was fear tainting those beautiful honey colored eyes, but it was quickly replaced with that same, frightening look she'd had before… That cold, unforgiving anger.

His legs wobbled as he was forced to march ahead without her. Even throwing his head back and calling out to her did no good. They were soon too far up the stairs and then through the maze of followers as they were led into the ceremonial chamber. A forceful nudge to put him into line nearly sent him to his face, yet Vanderwood caught him.

Saeyoung quickly scanned the room and the door they'd been led in through for any sign of Miyeon. Even with as much of a fight as she'd put up, the girl should've been right behind them. The throbbing in his ears was so very thready and fast now. He felt a little outside his own body and as though he were floating just a little off the ground. Everything seemed darker than it ought to, and for some reason he felt feverish and cold at the same time.

They were in a throne room of sorts that had bottles of strange fluid, basins for what was likely going to be a twisted take on a baptism and implements of torture. A throng of followers had gathered in their vestments looking expectantly to where their newest members were gathered.

"God. Have they really been preparing this all this time?" the hacker pondered aloud.

"…They're really going to torture us," the older agent whispered. "…How much longer do we have?"

"…A little less than two hours …" Saeyoung answered meekly.

Miyeon still hadn't appeared…

Had he blacked out?

"You look really bad right now, man… How are you still standing?"

It was the adrenaline…

"Shit… Did those people even see that SOS?" Vanderwood fretted.

"I'm sure Jumin saw it. But we came a long way out, and they're far… So it's going to take time."

"I know but are we going to still be alive by then? Seriously why are they going about this so fast?"

Rika wasn't going to kill anyone that was useful to her.

A cheer went up from the crowd as one of the rich curtains was opened. Rika emerged in her vestments with a small entourage of worshipers. Following behind, slowly, and at a respectable distance was Miyeon whose head was held low with guards still close by before being set at the bottom of the steps. That was some relief, but he was worried as to why it'd taken so long for her to emerge. Then again, he couldn't trust his own sense of time anymore. The world seemed to swim around him. It took Vanderwood using his shoulder to let him lean against him to keep him aware of just which way was up.

"For everlasting Paradise!" the leader called.

"For everlasting Paradise!" her flock jubilantly cried in answer.

As the "Savior" was led to her throne, she sat with an elegant motion while Miyeon was kept standing at her side. A rather dainty looking collar had been placed around her neck, her hands gloved, and upon her wrists were cuffs that Rika held as though she were some pet with a tendency to wander. After several minutes, she finally looked up and their eyes met above the cheers from the crowd. The instant she saw him, he could see her worry for his well being… He'd stall for time and do whatever it took to stretch things out so further harm would come to her; his hand rested over his injured arm as a quiet signal of his intent. Considering how her lips tightened, Miyeon seemed to understand this unspoken message. His jaw tightened, yet she gently shook her head.

A prayer was chanted while their heads were forced forward in reverence.

It was a twisted, wretched bastardization of anything he knew… Looking down wasn't a good thing either as he could feel himself losing balance more than once. Vanderwood steadied him each time as they exchanged glances under the fringe of their bangs. He'd need help loosening the bandages on his arm that had been placed to immobilize it. As the guards were being kind enough to let him lean on the older agent, it'd be no problem feigning weakness to get him to untether him.

The only question was when…

After a short hymnal, he heard a reverent silence fall while Rika again stood, raising her arms.

"We will now begin the cleansing and entering ceremony for our new disciples!"

There was a cheer before the quiet returned.

"These sinners before you will endure the trial. They will cleanse themselves of the unnecessary doctrines of the contaminated world. To survive this ordeal, they will give their all. The demons in them will fight, so the process will be long and arduous. By the end, they will be with us in Paradise and will be saved. Once they are pure, they will pledge themselves to our sacred mission and join you as brothers and sister in attendance of the neverending party. For everlasting Paradise!"

Before the crowd could repeat the last, a familiar voice cut through the crowd.

"Savior!"

The hacker was sure he was hallucinating until he saw Saeran's familiar form emerge from the throng of bodies. Was he going to help them? Had Saeran realized what was really going on? The tone of his voice wasn't one of praise and considering the look of annoyance on Rika's face, it wasn't part of the ceremony.

"You swore to me that you'd not accept Luciel as a disciple! You promised me that he would know only darkness! You promised his life to me!" his twin cried with feral desperation. "That sinner cannot be allowed to our Paradise!"

Reflexively his foot moved to take a step to be closer to his twin, yet Vanderwood mistook it for him growing weak. The crowd had quieted enough for him to make out what she was saying between reading her lips and the occasional syllables that made it through…

"I have decided that Saeyoung will be a great asset to our cause. Do NOT interrupt the ceremony further and return to your duties."

Saeran staggered back as if she'd hit him. His head then shook and his pale fists balled up. "I can be greater than him! You chose me instead of him! You told me that I could be so much more than Luciel! That I had greater potential! I have been loyal to you! He betrayed us!"

His voice was so ragged and full of rage and what was likely years of anguish…

"Saeran…"

The older twin felt his body move forward. His little brother was hurting so much. These people had played them against each other and themselves. The pain was the same for each of them. He wanted nothing more than to take him and Miyeon in his arms and just leave.

"Saeran, I gave you your chance. For years… And you failed. You need to learn to accept your failures."

These people could devour themselves alive if they liked. He just wanted to take his family and go home…

"Seven! Dude…" Vanderwood pulled him back as he really was about to fall now.

All he could see was the scared, miserable little boy who would sit in the corner and cry… Whose legs were so weak and whose stomach hurt from hunger. Then even when he ate it would hurt from forgetting what to even do with food. There near him was the only hope of a happy future he had, gazing upon that sad remnant with such compassion… No matter how he'd hurt her, Miyeon desperately wanted to help too, but her hands were bound… Rika no doubt was going to twist and torture her.

"Y…You promised…" Saeran sippered at his "Savior", yet all Saeyoung felt it directed at him… He swore he could hear his brother's voice from whent they were children again.

He promised he'd never leave him, that he'd protect him.

His family… The past, present, and future of it depended on the next few minutes. He couldn't just stand here. He was going to keep his promise.

"You promised I could have my revenge," Saeran shrieked. "I risked my live to bring him here! And now you are going to break your promise and let that filth live!? Make him a disciple!? Reward his sins by letting him join our everlasting party!?"

The more he screamed, the closer he got to the Savior and the more unhinged he became. Saeran was practically frothing with indignation at this point…

"This is good… He's doing a pretty good job of stalling for time for us," the older agent remarked. His body felt so numb and his brain so heavy that it took the brunette giving him a shake for the rest of the data packets needed to understand what he meant to fully transmit… There was a darkness building on the edge of his vision. "Luciel… Hey…!"

"…Is he okay?" V asked, his deep voice full of sincere worry.

His knees felt like they were going to buckle.

"You're really pale…" With desperation he gave him another gentle shake before looking around in desperation. "When is going to get here…? Dammit… Couldn't a rich guy like that take a flight or something? This is an emergency… Hang in there, okay?"

Looking back Saeyoung could see everyone's attention was on the altar and the disagreement. The shock that anyone would address the "Savior" so crudely and interrupt such a ritual was likely so shocking to everyone. Fear kept others compliant, but fear wasn't something Saeran had anymore. With as much as he'd been hurt and abused… There was probably nothing they could do to him that would matter to him…

But it mattered to Saeyoung…

"Saeran… How very foolish," Rika sighed. "Sadly… It is sometimes necessary to prune rotten leaves for new ones to grow."

"Do you mean I have to be accept letting him stay here? He has no right to be happy! YOU'RE the one who told me what he did to me!" his twin spat.

"Mint Eye's prerogative is to save those in need from the outside world. We serve a greater purpose – to build a beautiful future. Your efforts are recognized. You did well bringing Saeyoung here; rest assured, you will be rewarded."

"I DON'T NEED A REWARD! Letting Luciel live betrays my faith!"

Whatever was going to happen needed to happen soon, he didn't have much more to give… The guards were so focused and conflicted on whether they needed to step in to protect savior that they'd relaxed their watch on the three of them.

Seemingly done with the theatrics, the blonde tightened her grip in Miyeon's chain and sought her faithful in the crowd.

"Is there not anyone here who can handle this interruption?"

There was a stall as the guards began to look to each other… They were so disgoranized. Now was his chance.

"…Loosen my bandages."

"Weren't we going to save that for when the calvary ca-"

"Just do it."

Vanderwood glanced around and discreetly unfastened the loops keeping his arm immobile.

"I can't let them take… Saeran… Please… Hurry."

As soon as he felt the pressure release, Saeyoung hurried up the way to the altar. It wasn't a dash as much as simply catching himself before he fell on his face.

The guards, realizing their mistake all began to move towards the altar.

By this point Saeran was already backing away from him as he staggered closer. There was throbbing in his arm again, as he could feel the blood beginning to flow again. He'd undoubtedly reopened the wound…

"Brother…"

"He can't even use his arm anymore," Saeran spat with disgust. "He's useless. Just get rid of him. Paradise will only come once he's gone!"

The more he spoke, the more frantic and desperate his voice became.

"Take Saeran away. He needs to be re-educated… Again," Rika ordered with the sort of annoyance of someone whose order had been made incorrectly time and time again.

"What…?" Saeran's voice betrayed his fear…

His brother… That scared little boy. He wasn't a child anymore. He wouldn't let them have him!

"Yes, Savior," the guards answered, seemingly organized now that they had a single goal to achieve.

No…

"I won't let you take Saeran. Not this time!"

Saeyoung positioned himself between his twin and the guards.

"Stop this! If… If you so much as touch my brother… I swear I'll kill you all!"

The guards were poised, but froze, uncertain if he had any other tricks up his sleeve.

"Stop all of this! Leave my family alone!" he ordered, his eyes meeting Miyeon's before he glanced back at his twin. "…Just… Stop this… We're going home."

Saeran's eyes were wide with confusion. That terrified child… The boy he knew was still in there. Big brother had come for him… Surely, he knew that. His twin stepped closer to him, before stepping back and shaking his head.

"…You dare block me?" his twin asked shakily. "You… Ruin everything… Interfering… I'll kill you!"

Even though he said it… He continued to hide behind him. Good… He would be safe there for a little longer. As the guards began to draw in, Saeyoung forced himself up as much as his body would allow. With the last of his energy, he took hold of one of the tall candle holders and swung it, knocking a few guards to the ground while the rest held their distance. He held it like a spear, the candles dripping wax and streaming with flame. But he was so weak… His wound was definitely open again as the blood began to flow freely from him, dripping in a steady stream down his fingers and onto the ground. Soon he began to shake too much for him to hold it. As it dropped, Saeyoung bore his teeth to the guards.

But he had nothing else to give…

"Saeran… Please… Let's go home…"

There was silence from his brother, or maybe the ringing in his ears was getting too loud. Lifting his head, he saw the face of an angel. The one who gave him hope peering from behind the blonde devil. She was struggling to free herself. All he could think was that she needed to stay calm… Help would be there for her soon…

The world began to fall out from under him and the weight of his sin began to consume him.

He wanted to be in her warm arms. He felt cold and formless.

As long as Miyeon held him – he was real. The future he had planned seemed to slip away with the last of his thoughts. With her, they could've been so happy. Paradise was where Miyeon was. That was home. With her, they'd be a real family.

His brother… Her loving smile and the faces of their children… That warm, safe place. That was what "home" was.

"Please… Let's just back home."

The world was going black.

No… He still had so much more he wanted to do!

Not yet.

God… Please…

"Come with me…"

Saeyoung's fingers reached out desperately, as the world faded away along with his fantasies of a sunny room with Miyeon resting against him, their baby in his arms, and Saeran at his side.

Everything was soon nothing but shrill ringing then darkness…

After an entire existence surrounded by people, he was truly alone. It was lonely where he was going to. The terror of that was something incomprehensible to him under the weight of the knowledge as his last thoughts raced by. The people he loved were in danger, but there was nothing he could do now. Just when he'd found something worth living for.

To be unaware and unable to do anything for them…

This… This is my Hell…

Miyeon fell to her knees seeing the red hair she loved so much fade under the sea of black suits. A pair of glassy gold eyes remained locked on her, but it was apparent they saw nothing. Rika stood, pulling the girl's chain to keep her close while the guards narrowed the circle around Saeran.

"Take the one who fainted… And lock the other one up!" ordered the Savior.

If she didn't do something now…!

The girl's gloved hands tightened around the chain as she prepared herself for the dark deed she'd considered the moment the chain had been placed on her. The way the fabric dug into her exposed nailbeds making her keenly aware of just how badly her fingers hurt still hurt…

Three…

Three of her nails had been ripped out. One for each of the others to spare their lives… That wasn't why there were tears in her eyes though.

"N-no…" a pained cry erupted from the pink haired man.

He was in denial, but it was clear the realization was hitting him.

The guards took advantage of this to get closer. They were within arms reach now and moved to restrain him so they could clear the body. Her heart felt the same fear as him. They were going to take his brother. If he were going to wake up, now was the time!

Saeran let out a shriek and wriggled free as his hand disappeared into his leather coat.

"No!"

Suddenly the guards backed away, as the slender man waved something in a circle to fend them off. It took a moment before Miyeon could fully recognize what she was seeing… This entire time he'd been armed. The sight of the gun in his unsteady hand made her blood run cold. Was he going to kill Saeyoung then himself just so no one else could have either of them?

"Saeran!" she cried out desperately.

"GET AWAY FROM ME! ALL OF YOU! Don't come near me…"

The men maintained their distance as he slung the gun with a wavering hand, his mint eyes wide. His knees weakened as he slumped beside his brother's body on the floor. One pale hand rested against his head while the other held the gun trained on the men around him. There was no telling what was going on in his thoughts other than they were racing and troubled… His tears flowed as it was soon clear to her he was fighting whatever conditioning he'd been through, his expressions cycling between fear, rage, and anguish. He was fighting a battle on two fronts. His eyes never left their potential targets, yet it was obvious they were secondary threats.

"…Ah… Ugh… My head… It hurts!" he groaned… "My head…! It feels like it's going to explode!"

"Disciples don't be alarmed," Rika called from her altar. The elegance in her voice was gone. Despite her order, it was obvious she was shaken. "This is just a test given to us! Give him the medicine! His faith is being tested – he needs the medicine of salvation!"

"Don't listen to this false Savior, she's been deceived! Faith is built on belief – not medicine!" Miyeon interjected.

The "Savior" glared down at her.

"…Savior."

"Give him the medicine-!"

"What makes you think she'll save any of you if she can't even keep a promise? She lied to him! She told him his brother hated him and abandoned him. Yet he is here before you sacrificing himself for that very same brother! The very twin he has loved from birth – she tried to separate from him so she could twist him into what you see before you. She promised him vengeance, and she's broken faith with him! What makes you think she'll save any of you if she can't even keep a promise to those boys? She betrayed them!"

Rika jerked hard on her collar.

As her body lurched forward, she could make out a familiar teal head drawing closer. His long fingers feeling the ground. Miyeon reached out to V's hand and pointed it towards the direction of his lover before placing it on her chain… He seemed to understand very clearly what was on the other end. Vanderwood was in the crowd now too, but he couldn't get anywhere near Saeyoung despite his best efforts.

"Savior… There's no way you'd do that to me…" Saeran muttered to himself while rocking. "You're the one who saved me. The first one who truly loved me… You'd never betray me!"

By this point V had followed the chain to it's end and was standing, hand outstretched searching for Rika as he edged closer.

"N-no… N…No way you'd do that t-t-to me… B-but…"

"Rika…" V called softly, his fingers grazing her, only for her to step back.

Miyeon's attention drifted from the photographer back to see Saeran's eyes wide on the couple between them.

"You've changed… Ever since that man came!" The twisted broken thoughts became a disorganized structure of jagged, painful thoughts. All erroneous, but all making perfect sense in his broken mind. The things Saeyoung believed and what they'd told him melted with the lies he'd been told into some strange new reality that he would grasp to as the one he clung to before shattered around him. "This…This is all because of you. It's all because of you that this happened to me!"

Miyeon scarsely had time to react as she saw the barrel of the gun pivot to it's target. Her voice was drowned out by the crack and flash of light.

It couldn't be undone… The scattering of the guards, the screams of the crowd, and the way they fell to the ground was secondary to the sight before her. Rika's frightened eyes… Like a scared child as V's hands rested on shoulders. Then they slipped down.

V and Rika slumped together. The blonde to her knees and him with a dull thud upon the stairs. It took a second for her to realize which one of them was actually hurt as her robes were splashed with scarlet. Yet the scream that erupted from her was one of heartbreak, not pain. There was no denying who had been hit.

By this point, the girl's body scrambled of its own accord but the chains made it hard to move quickly.

The "Savior's" small pale hands were over her head as the realization settled upon her of what she was seeing. She was frozen in denial.

"…No…" V pleaded quietly, his hand that had been outreached to his love now coming to rest on his wound.

Saeran muttered softly to himself, having scooped his twin up into his arms, rocking while keeping the gun tight in hand.

"Savior, should we get rid of all of them?" a guard asked in the chaos.

There was no comprehensible answer from her to anyone…

Miyeon had made it to V's feet, as he reached out to the love of his life.

"Rika…"

Finally, the "Savior" spoke. Her voice was so small, frail, and childlike. "Are…Are you… Leaving?"

"Don't cry," the man soothed, before coughing a spray of blood up. "Please…"

"Are you leaving me?" she asked again.

Miyeon could see the abandoned little girl so clearly now…

"Rika… I'm always with you," V assured her weakly. "…Like the sun."

She covered her mouth as the realization hit her of just what was going to happen, stifling a sob while the tears began to flow down her pale cheeks.

"Rika… Love of my soul."

His words ebbed as his breathing soon grew labored as the blonde let out a wail of anguish. She began to scream and sob, all while he reached for her, concern and love in his eyes.

As Miyeon finally edged up behind the photographer to pull his back so she could see his wound. A hopelessness hit her. It was through his chest… Judging by the movement she could see into his chest cavity and the blood he was coughing up made it clear that at the very least his lung was punctured. He'd drown in his own blood like this! There was no way for her to get pressure back in his chest and seal it so he could breathe properly. If someone didn't come soon, he was going to die…

She wasn't going to allow that!

She promised him they'd all make it through this together.

Saeyoung was hanging on by a thread… Albeit shallow, he was still breathing. V could too if he just held on.

"Hold on… Keep your breathing steady," she ordered.

V's fingers curled around where she put pressure on his chest while his other continued to reach out for Rika. Even now, the woman he loved was all he could think of… The question was, did he have the will to? He seemed so at peace.

"Stay with me!" Miyeon shouted. "There's so much you still have to do! Hang on!"

An agonized gurgle escaped him as a weary smile crossed his lips. He tried to say something, but fairly soon his grip became loose.

"No… No… No…"

Miyeon quickly felt for his pulse.

It was there…

Then it wasn't.

His chest didn't rise…

The gurgling stopped, and there was no warmth from his lips or nose.

He wasn't breathing now!

She wasn't going to break her promise…

Desperately, Miyeon began to press hard into his chest. Each push in sent an agonizing ripple of pain up her arm as the sensitive skin of her exposed nail beds rubbed hard against the gauze that'd been wrapped around them. The chains added weight, but thankfully didn't get in the way of her hand positioning. She felt sick hearing a crunch as V's bones broke with each push down to force his heart to beat. Rika wailed louder.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" she repeated to V…

It was an agonizing count of compressions to his fractured sternum until she forced his lips over his to breathe air back into his lungs… His blood and sick mixed with the metallic tang of fear in her mouth. But it didn't matter…

There were worse things than the taste of vomit and blood…

Failure…

The dull look in his eyes…

The cries of those who would miss him and their mourning.

…Funerals… Loss… Misery. There'd been enough of that!

But everything she touched died…

Saeyoung was bleeding out, and she was here beside a man he hated…

Who'd betrayed him.

Maybe it was better to let him go – V wanted to anyway but…

No!

She wasn't going to lose anyone else!

This wasn't V's fault!

It could work out… Everyone could come to an understanding. They just had to make it through!

There was no happy ending for anyone unless they were all on the other side together.

Sniffling and sobbing, Miyeon put it out of her mind. Even the pain in her hands and the way her body burned from the continued effort over several minutes. It took every muscle in her body to put enough pressure to make a difference.

In the chaos unfolding around her, the only rhythm was the count.

…28

…29

…30

Two breaths until his lungs rose, expelling blood in bursts as the count started again…

Nothing existed except the rhythm of V's heart under Miyeon's scarlet hands.